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Does prayer really work? "No."
by Jane Stillwater
opednews.com
February 10, 2008
When I was a tousle-headed toddler back in 1943, my father went
off to war and my mother, sister and I lived in an old two-story
home on Charles Street in Point Loma, near the San Diego/Coronado
naval base. And while their men were away in the Pacific, the
war-widowed women of Charles Street banded together and formed
support groups and babysitting exchanges and went to church
together -- and I learned how to pray.
"Jane is very serious about her Sunday school," my mother wrote in
my baby book. "She loves going to church!" And now, over 60 years
later, I'm still praying my heart out. But do my prayers work? Not
so you'd notice.
"Maybe you are praying for the wrong thing, Jane," said a friend.
Yeah, maybe I should start praying for a new car or a new
microwave. But there is only one thing I want in this world. And I
have prayed for it daily since as long as I can remember.
"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
Here's my daily prayer shopping list: "May all beings be blessed
with peace, love, joy, equanimity, abundance, treasure,
enlightenment, health, flowers, trees, fresh air, sunshine,
happiness, beauty, silence, simplicity, grace, compassion, hope,
wisdom, courage, calm, clarity, creativity, adventure, truth and
good work in this lifetime -- even me."
I've prayed this prayer in English, Spanish, Latin, Arabic,
Chinese and even Setswana. But have my prayers been answered?
"No."
Is there peace in the DRC, Darfur or Kenya? Is there fresh air in
Houston? Is there abundance in Afghanistan, where almost
one-fourth of the population has died unnecessarily since 2001? Is
there happiness in the Great Mall of America? Do we have wisdom in
Iraq, compassion in Gaza, hope in our homeless shelters,
equanimity in the minds of the millions of first-world people with
roofs over their heads and food on their tables who still must
take anti-depressants because they are so miserable in their own
souls if they don't? Or does enlightenment guide Congress, the
White House, our local city councils and the Supreme Court? "No."
I have to admit that there is lots of sunshine on the polar ice
caps these days. But is that really in answer to prayer?
My knees are worn out from praying for a better world. I want to
see people get along. All this war and greed and hostility and
anger and lack of trust is tearing me apart. But are my prayers
working? "No."
Jane Stillwater is a freelance writer who hates injustice and
corruption in any form but especially injustice and corruption
paid for by American taxpayers. She was embedded with troops in
Iraq, knows what war is all about and has recently published a
book entitled, "Bring Your Own Flak Jacket: Helpful Tips For
Touring Today's Middle East".
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